Taunton coach back on sidelines he missed so much

Thursday

TAUNTON — For the past two years, Joe Rocha had this burning desire to return to the sidelines.

The former Taunton High boys head coach enjoyed watching the boys and girls soccer teams compete during their games while being the official timer at home games.

But over the past year, his hunger and love for the game grew even more.

“Sitting there watching the kids play that desire came back,” Rocha said. “Last year, I think it hit me more than ever before. I missed being out there. I like being out there with the kids.”

Rocha was recently named the new Tiger girls soccer head coach for the upcoming fall season. He replaces former head coach Edith Dixon, who moved to the Midwest. Dixon led Taunton to its only state tournament appearance and first-ever playoff win in school history in 2015.

“If it was the boys, I don’t think I would have taken the job,” Rocha said. “It is a different philosophy and the way they (girls) play the game. It is a different perspective that is basically why I’m coming back. It is an opportunity that I thought I would never get … coaching girls. But I’m looking forward to it.”

Rocha coached the boys team at Taunton from 2002 to 2010.

He first built the program, which did not have a freshman team, to where it is today.

His teams have always been very competitive and in the mix against the likes of New Bedford, Brockton and Durfee. The same young group of boys that played for him in his final season made playoffs in each of the next two years.

Rocha coached at Bishop Connolly for five years, beginning in the 1990s. He guided the Cougars to a South Sectional semifinal berth.

Taunton athletic director Mark Ottavianelli said Rocha began the same time he did at the high school.

“We asked him to take over the boys soccer program back then,” Ottavianelli said. “He did an excellent job and brought the program back. He cares about kids and is passionate about the game. We look forward to that same enthusiasm and that passion with the girls program.”

Throughout his time away from the game, he has noticed the talent level of the Hockomock League getting better by the day. He understands it will take some patience and growth from his new team.

“In this league, every game is like playing a New Bedford, Durfee and Brockton,” Rocha said. “There are no cupcakes in this league. The [girls] programs in this league are tremendous. At the end of every season, you will always see a Hock team in the playoffs that advance to the semifinal or state final. That said, we have a lot of work to do to be able to get to that level.”

The Tigers currently have no freshman program. Rocha said his objective is to develop one and have three teams for the program, in order to compete every year for the Hockomock League title.

“I think we can be competitive,” he said. “I don’t think we have been competitive and not all last year. There are a lot of reasons why … injuries killed us last year. Hopefully, everyone is back, healthy and ready to go. On the field, I feel we have a lot of classy kids and we have a lot of kids that can be very successful. I’m hoping we can take that change and see what we can do.”

Rocha said there will be a lot of small goals for the girls to reach each and every game. Once they achieve the first, it’s on to the next.

“We have to walk before we can run,” Rocha said. “I’m not setting any high goals that we can’t achieve. We are going to have five or six small ones in place for the next season. I feel if we can get to all those goals then we going to be in the state tournament.”

There are three things Rocha said his team will be focused on:

“One, I promise them that practice will not be four hours long,” he said. “Two, we will not lose 8-0 anymore and three, I want them to be competitive and play hard from the first minute to the 80th minute. I will make sure of that.”

Four years ago, the girls soccer team took the city by storm in their first-ever postseason berth.

The question is, can they do it again moving forward? Rocha said he will make it happen.

“I think he will bring an excitement in the building,” Ottavianelli said. “We’re looking forward to having him lead us into the future with the girls soccer program. We have great kids here and they deserve the best. I think he will do an outstanding job with the program.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.